Looks like fashion gatherings are THE events of the moment, cause while our Zeebelinah was gushing over Bonang and the Woolies collection; me, myself and Picay were attending a Gert Johan Coetzee launch at The Rosebank Crowne Plaza Hotel. The intimate (read small) venue was overcrowded with media personalities, celebrities and beautiful garments, well, a handful of them to be precise.
By attending the event we were first to be privy to GJC’s new, vintage-inspired, ready to wear collection called Vintage Closet, targeted at working women.Vintage Closet was inspired by mom-and-daughter team Lorraine and Tiffiny Sutherland, who conceptualised the idea of a range of office wear with a designer twist and a vintage feel. The stylish Johannesburg twosome then approached Coetzee and a partnership was forged out ofwhich Vintage Closet was born. It wasn’t a fashion show as I expected, there was no ramp, just platforms for models to stand on and rotate every couple of seconds. Eish, it’s tough being a model.
You know Gert is a fabric genius, and if ever I was to cross-dress like aboKatlego Mashego, I’d rock the knee-high pink, mepako-exposing skirt, with that black bra and lacy top the dark-chocolate model was wearing. Oook, maybe I’d first need a combo of the 13×2-day diet and a bag of slimBetty. Mara do you ladies see yourselves in any of these?
As mentioned earlier on, the only famous faces I spotted was Carmel Fisher of Generations and High Rollers’ fame, Isidingo’s Jay Anstey, singer Louise Carver and the former Miss Earth Tamerin Jardine. Not only is Tamerin a beautiful lekgowa, futhi umhle’ ngaphakathi (inner beauty), we chatted a bit about planting trees, love and flower power. Aus’ Sade was also there conducting interviews. I missed the name of her show though. She’d make a cute couple le Toya Buthelezi *hides*
Gert’s PR guru, Melinda Shaw and our friend Allegro were also there. I love the fire driving these 2 women.
Bonang’s absence was quite conspicuous, isn’t she like the face of GJC? I suppose the Woolworth gig was gonna pay in Randelas, whereas Gert’s would probably pay in kind. Haayi guys, not that kind, I’m talking clothes here, besides Gert doesn’t roll that way, and Bonang is far too much of a lady for such.
The Vintage Closet Capsule
Models with Gert and Friend
The People
Gert with mom-daughter duo Tiffiny and Lorraine Sutherland
Man of the moment, Designer Gert Johan Coetzee
Singer/songwriter Louise Carver – Looks like she was wearing one of the capsule dresses
Isidingo’s Jay Anstey – wonder where George Avakian was that night 
Miss Earth SA 2012 Tamerin Jardine – She is becoming quite a socialite, very lovable though
Melinda, Gert & Tamerin
PR guru Melinda Shaw & our girl Allegra
Clothes, Wine and Girlfriends – just how it should be!
Angibazi but I am sure they are famous
Strike a pose…..Vogue
The crowd
MTV SA’s Sade doing the interview rounds
By Kabelo Moroka
Pics: Picay Photography